Hull owner Acun Ilicali threatens legal action after playoff final change

Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has stated his club will pursue legal action if they lose to Middlesbrough in Saturday's Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium. The threat follows a dramatic, last-minute change of opponent for Hull after Southampton were expelled from the playoffs for breaching league regulations.

Southampton were removed from the competition on Tuesday after an independent disciplinary commission found them guilty of spying on Middlesbrough's training sessions ahead of their semifinal. The club also admitted to surveilling two other opponents earlier in the season. As a result, Middlesbrough, who lost the semifinal to Southampton, were reinstated to face Hull in the final. Southampton's appeal against the expulsion was dismissed on Wednesday.

Ilicali described the decision to insert Middlesbrough directly into the final as "incredibly wrong." Speaking outside Wembley before the match, he said his legal team advised taking action. He argued that if the infraction was severe enough to remove Southampton, the playoffs should have been restarted with Wrexham, the team that finished seventh, taking Southampton's place in a replayed semifinal. Ilicali said he...